Deep Thoughts with Richard Schoen

I recently wrote an article for IBM Systems magazine that is the start of a series on using .Net with the AS/400, iSeries , System i or whatever you may call it today. This first article is an introduction to using .Net with the System i platform and will hopefully stimulate your interest in using the .Net technology with your System i to write compelling Windows and Web based applications. Click here to read the article. Your career depends on staying up with current technologies and .Net is a powerful technology for writing System i applications.

On August 2nd I did an online interview to talk about the “Paperless Office” with Bruce Teichman from All Covered a nationwide information technology (IT) services company focused solely on unique needs of small business. Bruce Teichman hosts a weekly radio show, “Technology Means Business”. The show streams live on the Internet at www.radiosandysprings.com each Thursday at 10 am.  Give it a listen to learn more about how document management technology can help companies achieve the concept of the “paperless office”.

There are several technologies available today for developing iSeries desktop and web applications. RJS uses all of them including .Net, Java, PHP and RPG.  However based on my background as an RPG developer and my experiences in working with all of these technologies I have come to the conclusion that .Net is usually the best technology for iSeries developers to select when choosing to begin developing windows desktop or web based applications.

Here are my top ten reasons why .Net is a good way to go for iSeries developers learning how to modernize their iSeries applications or simply needing to write PC or web based applications for other business purposes:

1.) The VB.Net language syntax is very english-like and similar to RPG, so it’s easy to master. Java and PHP are more cryptic and can take up to a year to become proficient with. As an iSeries developer I found it much easier to grasp the english-like VB language than I did the C-style syntax of Java or the odd, unstructured style of PHP.

2.) Your first iSeries database application can be written within 30 minutes of learning how to use .Net. A windows or web based subfile-like inquiry/query application can be developed in less than 50 lines of code. Windows desktop applications are difficult to write in Java and cannot be written in PHP.

3.) Developers don’t need to initially know any HTML to get started with web application development. While I advocate knowing HTML because it’s the screen design syntax for web applications, Microsoft Visual Studio hides a lot of the complexities of HTML design so a developer beginning to develop web applications with Visual Studio can write initial code with little or no HTML design experience. If you use Java or PHP you will need to have a background in HTML design before getting started.

4.) Existing RPG and CL application code can be easily called and used within a windows or web application. This is one of the best features of Visual Studio. Existing business logic written for green screen applications can be re-used in Windows and Web applications.

5.) Web Services can be written very easily using .Net technology and with very little code.

6.) Developers can mix and match VB.Net, C# or Java syntax within a .Net application. Using open source tools such as IKVM, real Java code can be used in a .Net application as well.

7.) The Visual Studio 2005 Express development environment is FREE and very programmer friendly. Eclipse and WDSC which are the primary Java and PHP development environments can be difficult to master. Eclipse is FREE and WDSC is included as part of the iSeries software licensing.

8.) There are several free and commercially available visual custom controls to make windows and web applications look visually appealing. There are not as many visual controls available for Java or PHP.

9.) Web applications written in ASP.Net can be run natively on the iSeries via Apache Tomcat or Websphere/Websphere Portal Server. This is a great way to write code using Microsoft Visual Studio, yet run the compiled code on the iSeries.

10.) Once developers know VB syntax, they can also write macros for MS Word, Excel or any VB script enabled language making their newfound development skills useful in several programming situations.

Well I just returned from the COMMON conference in Anaheim, CA last night. It’s amazing how fast a week can go by.  I want to thank all of the attendees who came to my .Net pre-conference session on Sunday.  We had seven hours of hands on with .Net and lots of good conversation. I also presented 3 sessions on using .Net with the iSeries. The introductory sessions were pretty well attended and I received some good feedback on how we can continue to expand the .Net for iSeries offerings within COMMON. Please make sure if you want to see more .Net classes at COMMON to submit your feedback to the COMMON board. I’m planning to submit a class on creating Web Services with .Net and also on how to generate class libraries (similar to RPG service programs) for .Net.  Email me directly if there are other .Net topic areas you would like to see covered at COMMON.  Also if you want to present or co-present at COMMON, please email me directly.  I would be happy to share the .Net load at the next conference.  Make sure to check out the COMMON web site for info on the Fall all day session conference in Columbus or the Spring 2008 conference in Nashville at the Opryland hotel.

I found myself needing to use some Javascript this week and learned that my Javascripting skills were a little rusty.  During my travels on the web I found the following site that had some nice techniques.  Bookmark Javascripter.net as a Javascripting resource.�

Well, we completed our first round of .Net for iSeries Developers training after our initial class in Minneapolis and the second class in Phoenix wrapped up this week. It was fun to see our class attendees open their eyes to the new world of .Net programming and how .Net can be used to enhance their existing iSeries application code without re-writing existing iSeries business logic. Almost every customer we talk to is doing something or has plans to do something with .Net technology. As iSeries developers, learning .Net technology can make us much more valuable by having RPG skills, .Net skills and business analysis skills. Whether you learn .Net from RJS and High Monkey or on your own, make sure you take a look at how this technology can help you organization bring existing iSeries applications to the desktop or web without using the green screen.

If you’re interested in learning more about .Net and the iSeries, think about attending the RJS - High Monkey sponsored .Net class in Mpls on March 14-16 or in Phoenix Arizona on March 21-23.  Click here to view more info on the 3-day intensive hands on class.

If you’re interested in hearing more about how .Net can be used to modernize iSeries applications, check out the following Podcast at iSeries Network.  Virgill Carroll talks with Wayne Madden about why .Net is relevent to all iSeries shops.

Happy New Year.  Welcome to 2007.

RJS will be adding a .Net for iSeries Developers class to our education offerings for 2007. Recognizing the growing need for iSeries developers to know languages other than RPG, we have put together a one day class offering we will be doing at a couple of user group venues including the Omni User Conference (Feb 26th - 27th) and COMMON (April 29th - May 2nd) in Anaheim California. This will be a VB.Net and ASP.Net jumpstart class for iSeries developers.

We will follow this one day user group offering with a 3-day commercial seminar entitled “.Net for iSeries”.  Our goal will be to focus on real world things you can accomplish quickly with .Net as an iSeries developer. The class will be an intense 3-day learning experience after which RPG developers can go back to the office and begin using what thay have learned right away. Our .Net for iSeries classes will help you to continue building value into your iSeries investment.

To enhance the classroom offerings, we have begun offering commercial consulting and training services to help our customers jump start their .Net, RPG and/or Java development projects. We will also be offering classes in other Microsoft and IBM technologies such as Lotus Domino. Feel free to contact us if you have an iSeries, .Net or Java project in mind or if you would like to discuss a custom class for your development team.

I participated in a webcast with Mainsoft last week. The RJS team used the Mainsoft Visual Mainwin for J2EE Portal Edition product to create a Websphere Portlet for our WebDocs iSeries edition software. The main benefit of using Mainsoft’s product is allowing developers to use ASP.Net and VB.Net code and run the compiled applications on Websphere Portal Server, Websphere Application Server or Apache Tomcat. No Java required. Check this out and let me know what you think. Here’s the web cast link: http://cp.jupiterweb.com/index.php/3236_registration